Program Director IREC Albany, New York, United States
The solar+ industry is projected to undergo significant growth over the next decade and beyond. SEIA has projected that the workforce will need to quadruple from 2020 values in order to meet the Biden administration’s clean energy goal of a 100% carbon free grid by 2035, expanding from 230,000 to over 900,000 workers during that time. Companies today are already struggling to find qualified workers and they continue to cite this as one of the biggest barriers to growth. Yet, very few companies are utilizing apprenticeship programs to develop the skilled workforce they are so desperate for. In order to meet the labor needs of the industry, a wide range of workforce development tools will be needed. Apprenticeships are an age old (i.e. proven) method of training someone in an occupation. In an apprenticeship, a novice is taught through on the job learning and mentorship by a skilled professional for some period of time until they have obtained the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to be proficient doing the job on their own. Traditionally apprenticeships have been utilized primarily in the skilled trades or crafts, but the model can be applied to a wide variety of occupations. While any formal on the job training program where new staff work under the guidance of an experienced supervisor can be called an apprenticeship, the US Department of Labor has regulations that define the requirements for apprenticeship programs to be recognized by the government. This poster will provider the learner with information about the US apprenticeship system, the benefits of registered apprenticeships to employers and their workers, and how to go about starting an apprenticeship program to train workers in a wide variety of job roles. It builds on and supports the work that IREC and SEIA are engaged in as part of the US Department of Energy’s Solar Ready Veterans Network™ to recognize Solar Installer as an apprenticeable occupation. The criteria for being an apprenticeable occupation will be presented, along with the requirements for registering and administering an apprenticeship program for any of one of the more than 1000 currently approved occupations. The variety of options available for implementing a program for other in-demand occupations like Electricians and Maintenance Technicians will also be discussed. While primarily focused on the solar+ industry, the topic is applicable to any company that needs to grow a skilled workforce. It will be of interest to executives, HR professionals, operations and training staff, and anyone involved with helping companies grow their workforce.
